When your child's teeth begin to come in, it can be quite painful. It can be extremely difficult as a parent to help your baby or toddler, especially if he isn't speaking yet, to tell you what he is feeling. There are ways to help you and your child get through the painful teething experience. See below for some helpful tips.

Teething Signs

If your infant or toddler cannot communicate this his teeth are hurting, there are some signs you can look for. Some of these signs may be seen as early as 3 months old, but you may not see an actual tooth until months later. These signs include:

• Excessive drooling
• Chewing 
• Irritability and extreme crankiness
• Sleeping difficulties (waking at night)
• Red or swollen gums

Teething Tips

1. Sooth Gums

Sooth your child's gums by rubbing them with a clean, cold cloth. You can also massage your child's gums with the cool cloth or with a clean finger. 

2. Teething Rings

Offer your child a teething ring. Look for teething rings filled with water that can be frozen or chilled to give your teething child some comfort. Some teething rings are even textured to help sooth gums. Watch the teething rings for signs of damage because some may break if too much pressure is applied.

3. Teething Necklaces

Look for teething necklaces that your child can wear, such as amber necklaces, or a teething necklace that you can wear. The necklace that you wear offers not just a teether for your child, it also provides entertainment for your child to play with. Find teething necklaces that are made from solid materials and are chemical free.

4. Cold Foods

If your child is eating solid foods, you can offer them a frozen treat such as a popsicle, frozen yogurt, or a mesh feeder with an ice cube in it, or a frozen food such as banana or melon.

5. Over The Counter Remedies

When in doubt, contact your child's pediatrician or pediatric dentist about over the counter remedies to help your sooth your child. You can sometimes offer acetaminophen or ibuprofen, which can help with pain as well as help your child sleep. Teething tablets are another option. Teething tablets are small tablets that dissolve quickly in saliva. Place them below your child's tongue for quick pain relief. Rubbing a soothing gel on your child's gums can also be helpful, although it is usually a short-lived solution, as it can be washed away quickly. 

Teething can be painful, but you can make it as pain free as possible by using the helpful tips above. Talk to a pediatric dentist such as Russell Pollina, DDS about these and other teething solutions.